newcars 2010

New Auto Cars of the America industry

Along with the recently introduced Ford Fiesta subcompact, and a new portfolio of small cars from General Motors, the Focus is also a test of whether American carmakers can finally build great small cars profitably.

Ford got an early lift Monday as its Fusion Hybrid sedan was named car of the year and its versatile Transit Connect compact van snagged truck of the year at the Detroit auto show.
Four new cars in particular--the Focus, Fiesta, Chevrolet Cruze and Chevrolet Aveo--"will spell the future profitability of the American industry," predicts IHS Global Insight analyst John Wolkonowicz. "They are premium small cars. As the market is downsizing to comply with new fuel-economy rules, it's going to be necessary for the car companies--if they intend to be profitable--to sell these cars at a premium," he said.

Both GM and Ford say they'll make money on small cars by selling them in huge volumes around the world. Ford, for example, will build up to 10 models on the highly flexible Focus small-car platform, including a compact minivan called the C-MAX. In all, the platform will account for more than 2 million cars annually by 2012, Ford says.

Redesigned for the 2012 model year, it's the flagship of Ford Motor's new small-car lineup in the U.S. and a crucial test of Chief Executive Alan R. Mulally's strategy to develop vehicles that will sell in every market of the world.

Of the hundreds of cars on display this week at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit none has more riding on it than the little Ford Focus.